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Americans warned against travel to Indonesia
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. government is warning Americans against traveling to Indonesia, saying extremists may again be planning to attack U.S. interests in the Southeast Asian country, "particularly U.S. government officials and facilities." Thursday's travel warning cites the August bombing of the U.S.-owned Marriott Hotel in Jakarta that killed 12 people and the October attack on the resort island of Bali that killed nearly 200 people. "The terrorist attacks in Jakarta and Bali, which took place in areas with large numbers of foreign tourists, clearly indicate that a security threat extends to private American citizens," the State Department said in its warning. Authorities have blamed Jemaah Islamiyah, a militant group trying to set up a pan-Islamic state in Southeast Asia, for the bombings. The State Department said the al Qaeda-linked group has terrorist cells operating throughout the region. With security tightened around official U.S. facilities, the warning says terrorists may "seek softer targets." "These may include facilities where Americans and Westerners are known to live, congregate, shop or visit, especially hotels, clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, housing compounds, transportation systems, places of worship, schools or outdoor recreation events," the warning said. "Throughout Indonesia, bombings have been an ongoing problem over the past 2 1/2 years and have struck religious, political, and business targets." It advises Americans to stay away from the Aceh region, where ongoing warfare continues between the Indonesian government and separatists. Any American in the area "should leave immediately," the warning said. The government also warned against traveling to border areas of Indonesia near Malaysia and the Philippines, where Abu Sayyaf rebels have been known to kidnap and kill Western tourists. "Americans who travel to or reside in Indonesia despite this travel warning should keep a low profile, varying times and routes for all required travel, remaining acutely aware of their immediate environment."
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